• The pitch: "Doing two to three six-minute sessions per day and eating a healthy diet will put you on a path to a better body."

• The process: Tracey Mallett, 36, is a Pilates teacher, sports nutritionist and creator of more than a dozen workout DVDs. In preparing to write her book, she recruited 90 women from age 20 to 60 to try her plan. Her strategy: short and simple cardio and weight-training sessions designed to burn maximum calories.

• Pros: Mallett's advice can be worked into a busy schedule. Customized workouts target different body types (such as "apples" or "pears") or areas that need attention (such as abdominals or butt). A typical day includes 12 minutes of exercise in the morning and a six-minute session in the evening. A mental component with yoga-style medication and movement is also part of the plan.

• Cons: none

• Bottom line: Getting in shape doesn't need to involve a lot of time -- or expensive equipment. Mallett suggests using a stability ball and light hand weights. Other "tools" in the book include instructions for creating food

logs, workout logs and progress sheets, as well as workout music suggestions and menu ideas.

-- Suzanne S. Brown

The Denver Post

$26 at www.amazon.com

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